How a defenseman's integrity kept the Brady-Garoppolo drama out of the Sharks' room

SAN JOSE — Paul Martin refused to sulk, lash out or allow his personal challenges to infect the Sharks dressing room.

Instead, he attacked the threat with the professionalism that’s defined his 13-year NHL career, choosing to be mentor instead of a divider.

In a sports year where New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady reportedly pushed out his backup, Jimmy Garoppolo, influencing the signal caller’s trade to the 49ers, Sharks defenseman Paul Martin took a different approach when rookie Joakim Ryan grabbed ahold of his job early in the season.

Martin continues to play a leadership role with the Sharks young blue liners even though he hasn’t suited up for an NHL game since Dec. 7.

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“That situation isn’t easy on anyone,” head coach Pete DeBoer said. “Those things can become a distraction or go the other way, but he’s been a consummate pro, as I expected, and even better.

“Rather than making it out about him, and pout, and be upset, he’s looked at it as an opportunity to help some of the young guys in the organization and that’s invaluable.”

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Early in the season, DeBoer confronted the decision that every head coach faces at some point in his career: stick with the proven veteran or hand the keys to the rising prospect who emerged in his absence. After Martin hit a setback in his recovery from offseason ankle surgery just two games into the season, Ryan capitalized on his opportunity to skate alongside Brent Burns on the Sharks second-defensive pairing, bumping the 37-year-old blue liner off the roster in January once he returned to full health.

Throughout the process, Martin continued to play a mentorship role with Ryan, offering him advice and building up his confidence instead of giving the 24-year-old the Brady-Garoppolo treatment.

“I’ve seen it go both ways,” Martin said. “You don’t want to go into the locker room and be a distraction. I’ve seen rooms get torn apart by this kind of thing.

“It’s all about the team outlook and I’ve always been a team guy even when it’s hurt me. That’s just how I am.”

Martin followed the example set by Tommy Albelin, a veteran defenseman with the New Jersey Devils when he broke into the league as a rookie during the 2003-04 season.

“He was in and out of the lineup and he would work with us even though you could tell he wanted to play. He probably felt like it was his spot,” Martin said. “I’m sure it wasn’t easy for him, but he did it. It was huge for us young guys. We definitely benefitted.”

Ryan is benefitting from the advisory role that Martin is playing in his development this season. When the rookie got bumped out of the lineup for six-consecutive games in December, and reassigned to the AHL Barracuda, Martin stepped forward, offered his support and boosted his confidence.

Martin resisted the temptation to treat Ryan’s turn of fortune as his opportunity by icing out his competitor.

“He kept telling me how well I was playing. Stay patient and stick with it, you’ll get back in there,” Ryan recalled. “The way he’s treated me ever since I came up at the beginning of the year has meant a lot to me. He’s been so nice to me personally, saying hi every day, asking how I’m doing.

“Some guys in that situation would be a huge jerk to someone like me who’s taking their spot. It could have been a really awkward situation.”

Martin is also playing a key role in Ryan’s emergence as the Sharks new “Wookie whisperer”. Skating alongside Burns presents a rare set of challenges and Martin isn’t shy about sharing what he learned during his two years on the job.

“The biggest thing is talking to him about how to play with Burnszie,” Ryan said. “It’s a unique thing, Burnszie is unique player.”

But Martin isn’t just a mentor to Ryan. The veteran defenseman is also playing a stabilizing role with Dylan DeMelo. The 24-year old leaned on Martin as he served as a healthy scratch in 16 of the Sharks first 19 games this season.

DeMelo said Martin helped him devise a strategy for approaching the Sharks coaching staff when he was frustrated about his playing time. With Martin’s help, DeMelo eventually locked down a regular spot on the blue line in December.

“Our coaching staff has an open-door policy, but sometimes, as a young guy, you don’t know what to say,” DeMelo said. “I talked to Paulie, and he’d say, you might want to say this or approach it this way. For me, he’s been just amazing.

“He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had.”

At this point, it’s unclear how and where Martin will spend the final year of his four-year, $19.4 million contract with the Sharks next winter. After spending 18 games in the AHL, Martin rejoined the Sharks on Feb. 19 to serve as the team’s eighth defenseman and a calming presence in the locker room, a role he’s embracing.

“You just prepare, work out and train in case something happens,” Martin said. “I just try to make sure that everyone in here’s feeling good.”

— Joel Ward participated in his first full practice Tuesday since he suffered a right-shoulder injury on Feb. 8. DeBoer said that Ward won’t be available for the Sharks game against the St. Louis Blues Thursday.

— Former-Shark Jonathan Cheechoo retired from professional hockey after four seasons in the KHL Thursday. Cheechoo recorded 170 goals and 305 points in 501 NHL games with the Sharks and the Ottawa Senators. He set the Sharks single-season goal record when he recorded 56 tallies in 2005-06.